Irish and EU authorities probe coordinated supermarket cyberattacks

Irish authorities are working closely with European partners to investigate a series of cyberattacks that targeted supermarkets in nine EU countries on 2 November.

Gardaí at headquarters are assisting the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in probing the hacking of refrigeration units at 13 SuperValu stores in Ireland, while also examining whether the incidents were a test for future ransom demands, a hostile‑state operation, or a combination of both.

International coordination

The attacks, which switched off freeze settings, affected supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Italy and four other member states. A security source said the motive could involve ransomware testing, state‑backed activity, or both, and noted “extensive international engagement” in the investigation.

The European Commission’s spokesperson, Thomas Regnier, confirmed two meetings were held: one between the EU Interinstitutional Task Force, ENISA and Europol, and a second coordinated by EU Cyclone with member states and national authorities. He stressed the need for collective resilience and careful attribution, adding that the incidents demonstrate how cyberattacks can disrupt essential services.

Earlier this month, a separate cyberattack disrupted around 700 French grocery stores, and the UK’s cyber security agency reported an attack on the British meat‑processing industry, highlighting a broader rise in “hacktivist” activity linked to state actors such as Russia and China.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Daniel & Hannah Snipes / Pexels.